Does anybody know how to get a giant hair knot out?!

Ok so I have the thickest hair and it gets giant knots which has recently happened to me, again. I have tried everything, olive oil, combs, brushes, detangling sprays, conditioner! Nothing works! I can't cut it cause then I would have a bald spot So I'm here to ask ya'll, have any ideas?

I have waist length hair and have had a few. It takes time. And conditioner. And a comb, working on tiny sections of the knot from the bottom up. Just start working on a bit of the bottom (use lots of conditioner), not the whole bottom. And yes, you will likely have to do a bit of cutting. Cut into a small bit of the knot to help open that area up. Then gobs of conditioner and more combing. It can take a long time, but eventually you'll come to that evil bit that started the whole knot in the first place. Once that area is sorted, the rest is easy. The entire knot does not have to be cut.

When cutting, do not cut across. Cut up into the knot. You lose less hair that way and it will not look like a chunk.

Get a heavy creamy detangling conditioner, if possible, and a very wide tooth comb (not a pick). The teeth of the comb should have at least 1/8" between them. After shampooing, slather on a lot of conditioner and work it into the knots with your fingers. You should be able to start loosening some of the knots. Using the comb, start at the bottom of your hair, combing the last inch or two out. Then move up an inch and comb that out. Continue until you get it all combed out, adding more conditioner if necessary. With big knots, comb out the edge of the knot, then move in a little more, then a little more, etc. and keep combing.

Rinse your hair and blot dry, don't rub with the towel. Comb again with the wide-toothed comb while your hair is wet (again starting from the bottom and working up).

I just realized I said a lot of the same things as cocheezie (two of us can't be wrong ). I am into costumes / cosplaying, and am a licensed hairdresser, and this method has worked to get out heavily hairsprayed and backcombed knots out of long hair. Good luck!

Hey guys thanks for your replies! I decided to just cut it. My hair got a bit thinner but appears to have gotten longer

If your hair is so thick that it tangles to the point you have to resort to cutting out knots, you need to see your hair stylist for a good trim to get rid of the dry ends, plus have your hair "thinned" .

As soon as I cut I'm right back to eating foods that make it grow back, lol.

Try plaiting it before you go to bed at night. I've got really long curly hair that just wants to be dreadlocks. If I plait it before I go to bed it isn't so knotted in the morning.

Norachan said:

 
Try plaiting it before you go to bed at night. I've got really long curly hair that just wants to be dreadlocks. If I plait it before I go to bed it isn't so knotted in the morning.

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   I braid my long hair every night before bed.  Saves me a lot of work the next morning!  

I can't add anything to what others have said about getting the knots out, but this is for future reference to prevent tangles. Be sure you comb/brush all tangles out before starting any activity that might make it worse. I always brush out my hair and braid it before going for a run. Between the sweat and the wind it tangles badly at the back of my neck, and if it starts out with tangles the knot is set really hard by the time I finish my run. I also find I need to comb out the knots before I wash my hair because once it gets wet it's a lot harder to work with it.

I've had long hair almost all of my life and braiding is a must! I keep my hair in a braid almost all of the time. Definitely, I braid it before I go to sleep.